Apparatus for packaging product means



July 1, W69 w. B. HOFFLER APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING PRODUCT MEANS Sheet Filed May 6, 1966 INVENTOR WILLIAM B. HOFFLER HIS ATTORNEYS July 1, 1969 w. B. HOFFLER 3,452,511

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING PRODUCT MEANS Filed May 6, 1966 Sheet of 4 4| 9, "40 O 52 i. 60/ an I 1 MIA 3" m sofixyfl 167 85" 86 53 59 65A 74 88 5| 53A INVENTOR 65B WILLIAM B. HOFFLER BY fi W4 HIS ATTORNEYS y 1, 1969 w. B. HOFF'LER 3,452,511

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING BRODUCT MEANS Sheet Filed May 6, 1966 Lil] INVENTOR WILLIAM B. HOFFLER HIS ATTORNEYS y 1969 w. B. HOFFLER 3,452,511

' APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING PRODUCT MEANS Filed May 6, 1966 Sheet 4 IIO INVENTOR WILLIAM B. HOFFLER HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office Patented July 1, 1969 APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING PRODUCT MEANS William B. Hotller, Henrico County, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 6, 1966, Ser. No. 548,103 Int. Cl. B65b 11/10 U.S. Cl. 53--219 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for measuring and dispensing wrapping material, such as a thin thermoplastic film provided in the form of a supply roll. The apparatus also enables a tight partial wrapping of an associated product means and then severing the thermoplastic film from its associated supply roll using heated knife means.

This invention pertains to packaging and more particularly to an improved measuring and dispensing apparatus for roll means of packaging material and to an improved method of wrapping product means.

The packaging of many products, such as food products for retail sale, for example, is a time consuming and generally expensive operation. Particularly in those instances where a food product is to be overwrapped with a transparent plastic material so that it can be easily viewed, it is important that the packaging be achieved rapidly and with minimum waste of such transparent material while providing a package in which such food product receives maximum protection by being tightly wrapped and sealed.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for measuring and dispensing wrapping material provided in roll form in a simple and eflicient manner.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a measuring and dispensing apparatus which is adjustable to enable dispensing any desired length of material and to thereby accommodate products of various sizes.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved measuring and dispensing apparatus for thin thermoplastic material provided in roll form and having means enabling pulling such thermoplastic material tightly around a product to be wrapped prior to cutting such plastic material at the desired measured length.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved measuring and dispensing apparatus which is light in weight and compact in size thus providing an apparatus which may be used with minimum waste of space at various locations throughout a packaging establishment.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved method of wrapping product means which is simple and results in tightly wrapping a product within a sheet of wrapping material in a rapid manner.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved method of wrapping product means with thermoplastic material provided in roll form while accurately measuring and dispensing only that amount of thermoplastic material required to wrap such product means.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved method of wrapping product means with a thin film of thermoplastic material by using platform means to facilitate initially partially wrapping such product means to provide a wrapping therearound of essentially tubular form and then finally wrapping such product means by closing the open tubular ends and heat sealing the thermoplastic material tightly around such product means.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide such improved measuring and dispensing apparatus and such improved method of tightly wrapping product means having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses, and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the improved measuring and dispensing apparatus of this invention and by dot-ted lines showing a roll of thin heat-scalable thermoplastic material supported on such apparatus for measuring and dispensing thereof.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view showing the measuring means used in the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side view illustrating the apparatus of FIGURE 1 at the beginning of a measuring and dispensing cycle and showing a predetermined length setting of ten inches which is to be dispensed set on the adjustable measuring apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is a side view similar to FIGURE 3 with parts broken away showing the position of pawl means comprising the measuring means defining essentially a one-way clutch at the beginning of a dispensing cycle, by dotted lines, and at the end of such dispensing cycle, by solid lines; and showing the predetermined ten inch section or sheet unrolled from the roll of thermoplastic material.

FIGURE 4A is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing a modification of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 in which platform means for supporting product means has been provided enabling the terminal end portion of the thermoplastic wrapping material to be wrapped around an end of the product means.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side view similar to FIG- URE 4 after the predetermined amount of thermoplastic material has been unrolled and showing the measuring apparatus at the terminal end of its measuring and dispensing movement and particularly illustrating the mechanism enabling such material to be pulled taut prior to severing and showing the motion used to sever such material.

FIGURE 5A is a view corresponding in measuring and dispensing sequence to FIGURE 5 and showing the product means of FIGURE 4A lifted oif of the platform means while wrapping such product means with plastic material to essentially define a tubular enclosure therefor having open ends.

FIGURE 6 is a side view with parts broken away showing the thermoplastic material after it has been brought into engagement with cutting means, showing the pivoting action of the bearing plate means against which the plastic material was previously pulled, showing (by dotted lines) the pawl means being released to reset the measuring mechanism, and showing (by solid lines) the pawl mechanism returned and reset to its initial position to begin another measuring dispensing cycle.

FIGURE 7 is a view illustrating a wrapped product means, shown as a tray of oranges, which have been wrapped with the sheet dispensed in FIGURE 4 and placed on a suitable hot plate for heat sealing the plastic material to the tray.

FIGURE 7A is a view similar to FIGURE 7 illustrating the tightly wrapped tray of FIGURE 5A placed on a suitable hot plate.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the measuring and dispensing apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a side view of the apparatus of FIGURE 8 with parts broken away illustrating the operation of the measuring apparatus, showing pawl means actuated from an initial measuring and dispensing position, shown by dotted lines, to a terminal position, shown by solid lines.

FIGURE is a view similar to FIGURE 9 showing the pawl means at the conclusion of a measuring and dis pensing cycle, by dotted lines, and particularly showing the pawl mechanism returned to its initial position, by solid lines, to begin another cycle.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustrated and described as being particularly adaptable for providing an improved measuring and dispensing apparatus for roll means of thin thermoplastic material used to wrap product means, such as food products, and an improved method of wrapping such food products, or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof for other uses and using other wrapping materials as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

In the exemplary embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIGURES 1-7, an improved measuring and dispensing apparatus is provided for measuring and dispensing predetermined amounts or lengths of material which is used as a protective wrapping for product means such as food products. Apparatus 20 supports roll means shown, in this example, as a roll of heat-sealable thermoplastic material or film 21 and includes simple and adjustable measuring means for repeated accurate dispensing of film 21 as well as simple cutting means for cutting such dispensed film.

Apparatus 20 has a base defined by a pair of vertical support plates each designated by the numeral 22 and rotatable support means comprising a pair of spaced apart horizontally arranged rollers 24 and 25. Rollers 24 and 25 are suitably supported between plates 22 for frictionless movement and roll 21 is placed thereon so that its outer periphery of circumference is supported on the outer periphery of rollers 24 and 25.

As will be seen in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the thermoplastic film 21 is wrapped around one of the rollers illustrated as roller 24 so that the unrolling action provided by pulling on the free terminal end of such film causes both rollers 24 and 25 to rotate along with roll 21.

Film 21 is wrapped around roller 24 by looping thereunder, to assure that the unrolling action will positively rotate roller 24. Friction means illustrated as a rubberlike surface coating 26 is provided on the outer surface of roll 24. Friction surface 26 assures film 21 will rotate roller 24 without slippage during the unrolling action.

Horizontal roller 24 is operatively connected to measuring means indicated generally by the numeral 30 and particularly shown in exploded view of FIGURE 2 of the drawings. Measuring means 30 measures the amount of plastic film unrolled from roll 21 and has means for stopping the unrolling action once a predetermined amount of plastic film 21 has been unrolled. The unrolling action is stopped in a positive manner so as to enable pulling film 21 tightly against bearing plate means such as a bearing plate 31 which is normally yieldingly held by yielding means in a film dispensing position. FIGURE 1 illustrates bearing plate 31 in such dispensing position and at an inclined angle with respect to a horizontal plane.

Bearing plate 31 is yieldingly urged to such dispensing position by a tension spring 32 which has one of its ends suitably fastened adjacent one edge of plate 31 and its opposite end fixed to vertical plate 22. Bearing plate 31 is supported for limited movement, pivoting movement, away from such dispensing position. Plate 31 is pivoted about a pivot axis defined by a screw 33 and spring 32 normally pivots plate 31 about screw 33.

It will be seen that the suface area of plate 31 enables film 21 to be pulled tightly thereagainst without likelihood of tearing or snagging. In addition, the upper edge of bearing plate 31 has a plurality of generally hemispherical notches therein, each designated by the numeral 34, which enable the thermoplastic film 21 to be easily grasped for pulling tightly across plate 31 and their moving such taut film 21 downwardly against cutting means shown as a cutting knife 36 in this example. Cutting knife 36 comprises an electrically heated blade which severs film 21 merely by contacting it thereagainst.

Plate 31 has means for holding the terminal end portion of the thermoplastic material 21 thereagainst to prevent it from falling away and in this example of the invention such means includes an elongated spring 37 extending therealong adjacent a side edge of such plate. Spring 37 is fastened at its opposite ends by a pair of screws 38 threaded into plate 31 and such spring is stretched across bearing plate 31 so that film 21 is slipped thereunder and held against such plate.

The heated cutting means or knife 36 is supported on a vertical extension of base 22 immediately adjacent and below bearing plate 31 and downstream thereof. Cutting knife 36 is positioned in such a manner so as to cut plastic film 21 at the terminal end portion of the limited pivoting movement of plate 31 about its pivot 33.

The action of the measuring and dispensing mechanism of measuring means 30 during the various sequential steps of unrolling plastic film 21 until a predetermined length is unrolled and then stopping the unrolling action to enable such film to be pulled tightly against bearing plate 31 to enable partial wrapping of a product, as desired, is illustrated particularly in FIGURES 3-6 of the drawings. The operating mechanism of the measuring means to be presently described is suitably enclosed by a protective housing 39 which is fastened in position by a pair of bolts 39A.

As shown particularly in the exploded view of FIGURE 2, measuring means 30 comprises first gear means or a drive gear 40 fixed to the terminal end of roller 24 for rotation therewith. Second gear means illustrated as a driven gear 41 is suitably supported for rotation on plate 22 on a pin shaft 42 which is suitably fixed to plate 22 as by threading. Shaft 42 and hence gear 41 are physically supported and arranged on base plate 22 so that the teeth of gear 41 are suitably engaged by the teeth of gear 40 enabling gear 41 to be driven by gear 40.

The measuring means or assembly 30 includes pawl means comprising arm means illustrated as an arm 45 which extends radially along gear 41 and a pawl carried on the terminal end thereof. Arm 45 is supported for rotation about shaft 42 together with gear 41. Arm 45 has a circular bearing surface defined by an opening 46 therein which enables arm 45 to be supported for rotation on shaft 42. Pawl 50 is pivotally supported on a pivot shaft 51 fixed to the terminal end portion of arm 45 adjacent the periphery of gear 41. Pawl 50 has a pair of gear engaging end portions at its opposite ends desig nated respectively by the numerals 52 and 53. While it may be desirable in some applications to provide means yieldingly holding pawl 50 in its pivoted position, in this embodiment pawl 50 is so constructed and arranged that such holding is not required.

In this example of the invention urging means illustrated as a spring 54 is provided for yieldingly urging arm 45 in one direction, i.e. clockwise. Spring 54 is wound in a circular manner and fastened by a screw 55 to arm 45 at its terminal outer end while its other end is fastened to an arm assembly 56 by a screw 57. Arm assembly 56 has an opening 58 therein which enables one end portion thereof to be supported on shaft 42. The opposite end of arm 56 engages a bushing 60 which is held in position by a screw 69 threaded into the base of apparatus 20. Arm assembly '56 holds the inner end of spring 54 fixed allowing its outer end to move with movements of arm 45.

With spring 54 thus fastened to arm assembly 56 at one end and engaging arm 45 at its other end, it will be seen that with the measuring apparatus 30 in assembled relation spring 54 normally tends to urge arm 45 in a clockwise manner about shaft 42 and in the absence of other mechanism or components urges arm 45 until an end portion of pawl 50 engages gear 40' adjacent the point of intermeshing contact gear 40 and gear 41. This action causes end portion '52 of pawl 50 to engage gear 41 and upon pulling film 21 the tendency would be for arm 45 to be rotated counterclockwise and further wind spring 54 tighter during the unrolling of roll 21. See FIGURE 4 for a clear understanding of this basic idea.

However, stop means is provided to stop and control the amount of clockwise rotation of arm 45 by spring 54. Such stop means is illustrated in this example of the invention as a stop pin 61. Stop pin 61, in effect, accomplishes the dual function of limiting the clockwise rotation of arm 45 to determine the amount of film 21 that can be subsequently unrolled upon pulling the free end thereof as well as causing end portion 52 of pawl 50 to engage gear 41 at the position corresponding to the positioning of pin 61. This provides a positive setting for the amount of plastic material 21 which can be unrolled. Briefly stated, the measuring action as seen in FIGURE 4 is achieved by pulling the terminal end of film 21 until arm 45 moves from pin 61 until its motion is stopped by tip 53A of pawl 50 engaging a stop surface 59 shown at the bottom of the apparatus.

Resetting means is provided to release pawl 50 so spring 54 can again drive arm 45 against pin 61 to enable repeating of the measuring and dispensing action. The resetting means comes into operation after plate 31 is pivoted to the solid line position shown in FIGURE 5 cansing tip 53A of pawl 50 to engage a shoulder 65A in an arm 74 which comprises linkage means and will be described in detail later.

Pin 61 may be adjustably angularly positioned to provide an adjustable length setting of film 21 that can be unrolled during each measuring and dispensing cycle. Set screw means such as a set screw 63 is provided for fixing pin 61 to assembly 62. Assembly 62 is held in its assembled position by a nut 62A threaded on the end of shaft 42. Assembly 62 has a notched peripheral edge 64 and has a central opening 66 therein enabling it to be mounted on shaft 42.

A holding member or adjustment detent 67 is provided for engaging the notched peripheral edge 64 and thus hold pin 61 in any desired angular position. Detent 67 will be described in detail subsequently.

Assembly 62 has markings thereon to enable adjustably setting the amount of film 21 which is to be unrolled in each cycle. The markings are of course suitably correlated with the gear mechanism of this apparatus. The amount of material to be dispensed is adjusted by rotating assembly 62 so that a mark thereon corresponding to the lineal inches of film to be unrolled from roll 21 in each cycle is placed immediately adjacent detent 67 and such detent engages notched surface 64 at such adjusted position.

In this embodiment, a setting of (inches in this example) is illustrated, as shown in Figure 3, which indicates that pin 61 is positioned so that spring 54 will drive its arm 45 clockwise until stop 61 is struck causing pawl 50 to engage the teeth of gear 41 and upon pulling the terminal end of thermoplastic material 21 the material can only be pulled until arm 45 and hence pawl 50 hits stop surface 59 thereby preventing further rotation of gears 40 and gear 41 and hence preventing film 21 from being unrolled further until the apparatus is reset.

The length adjustment detent 67 is pivotally mounted using a screw 69 on a horizontal linkage bar 74 which is in turn supported on plate 22. Detent 67 is yieldingly urged into engagement with notched surface 64, of assembly 62 by a spring 70 which has one of its ends fastened to detent 67 by a screw 71 and its opposite end fastened to linkage bar 74 by a screw 72.

Thus, as seen in Figure 3 of the drawings assembly 62 is rotated so that detent 67 engages notched surface 64 at the position corresponding to the predetermined length of ten inches of film 21. This rotation of assembly 62 properly positions pin 61. At this length setting arm 45 is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings in dotted lines as it engages pin 61. Pin 61 assures that end 52 of pawl 50 engages the teeth of gear 41.

As plastic film 21 is unrolled, with plate 31 in the position of FIGURE 4, arm 45 travels from the dotted line position to the solid line position of FIGURE 4. It will be appreciated that film 21 is thus unrolled until tip 53A of pawl 50 hits stop 59. Obviously film 21 can be be pulled as tightly as desired at this point. After stop 59 is contacted film 21 is pulled downwardly as shown by the solid line position of plate 31 in FIGURE 5. In this position arm 74 is moved down by a linkage assembly, which will be described later, and end portion 53A of pawl 50 moves into engagement with surface or shoulder 65A and there is a slight counterclockwise movement of pawl 50 as it engages shoulder 65A.

At this point in the operating sequence product means to be wrapped by plastic film 21 may be partially wrapped while pulling tightly and the mechanism prevents more of the plastic film 21 from unrolling. This locking action is provided because with portion 53A against shoulder 65A, end 52 is still held in engagement with the teeth of gear 41. Such pulling action may continue until the preset amount of plastic film 21 that has been unrolled is severed by cutting knife 36 and this cutting action is accomplished by further pulling of plastic film 21 tautly and downwardly through a limited movement generally transverse plate 31 and across cutting knife 36.

The downward pulling action, see FIGURE 5, causes bearing plate 31 to pivot about its pivot 33 overriding the action of spring 32 and as film 21 engages cutting means 36 film 21 is severed and spring 32 returns plate 31 to its initial dispensing or inclined position.

The action of the bearing plate 31 upon returning to its inclined or dispensing position causes pawl 50 to be pivoted counterclockwise to thereby cause its tip 52 to be disengaged from the teeth of gear 41. This resets the measuring apparatus against stop 61 corresponding to the previously set 10 inch position.

The resetting means which provides the resetting action comprises the previously described spring 54 'which rotates arm 45 clockwise, after the predetermined amount of film 21 has been unrolled and cut and pawl 50 is suitably released. The resetting means includes a surface 65B on arm 74 which engages pawl 50 to thereby pivot such pawl about its pivot shaft 51.

Linkage means is provided operatively connected between the resetting means and the bearing plate 31. The linkage means comprises an adjustable vertical linkage arm fastened at its upper end to bearing plate 31 by a screw 81 so as to pivot plate 31 about its pivot 33- in a counterclockwise manner and in opposition to the resisting action of spring 32. Arm 80' is comprised of two pieces which have suitable means illustrated at 83- for slidably adjusting the overall length thereof.

The linkage means also comprises the previously mentioned arm 74 pivotally fastened by a screw 84 to the terminal end of vertical arm 80. Arm 74 is mounted at its opposite end for pivoting movement about a pivot screw 85 fixed to vertical plate 22. Arm 74 also has an elongated slot 86 provided therein to allow rotary counterclockwise movement of arm 45 as film 21 is unrolled thereby rotating gears 40 and 41.

As film 21 is pulled across bearing plate 31, plate 31 is pivoted about its pivot 33 and linkage arms 74 and 80 are moved so that as arm 45 moves to its lower position pawl 50 is positioned with its terminal tip 53A against 7 shoulder 65A. Note that in this position the film 21 an still be pulled tightly because end portion 52 is stil in locking engagement with gear 41.

Upon severing film 21 by bringing it into engagement with knife 36 hearing plate 31 is pivoted clockwise by spring 32, thereby causing surface 65B of arm 74 to engage the lower surface of end portion 53 and thereby pivoting pawl 50 so that its tip 52 is disengaged from the teeth of gear 41, causing arm 45 to be rotated clockwise from the position shown in dotted lines to the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 6 into engagement with stop pin 61 at the ten inch setting. Pin 61 forces end portion 52 of pawl 50 to reengage the teeth of gear 41 in preparation for another measuring and dispensing cycle.

Thus, it is seen that the measuring mechanism with its resetting components resets the mechanism in a simple and foolproof manner so that the preset amount of plastic material can be dispensed effieciently and with minimum waste. It is also a simple matter with the measuring mechanism employed to dispense and measure material having different gauge thicknesses because the measuring mechanism, as well as the entire apparatus 20, is independent of the thickness of the material being used.

The apparatus 20 is commonly used as a sheeter, that is, a predetermined length is unrolled, cut, and product means, such as a tray of oranges 88, as seen in FIGURE 7 is then overwrapped. However, as described above it will be appreciated that partial wrapping may take place prior to severing.

In the modification of this invention shown in FIG- URES 4A and 5A platform means such as a platform 90 is supported on base plates 22 by a pair of upright members 91 each fixed to an associated plate 22 and to platform 90. The structure shown in FIGURES 4A and 5A, except platform 90 and supports 91 therefor, is identical to the previously described apparatus 20 hence only the new par-ts will be numbered with new numbers and described.

Platform 90 is placed immediately above roll 21 and between such roll and cutting means 36. The use of platform 90 facilitates what may be referred to as a banding operation in which product means, such as a tray of apples 89 in this example, is placed on platform 90 and the free end of film 21 is looped around one end portion of such tray of apples as shown in FIGURE 4A. The end portion about which the free end is looped is shown in this example at 92 and is arranged generally opposite the end of tray 89 located adjacent cutting means 36.

The free end portion of plastic film 21 as looped over tray 89 is held against the bottom of such tray and the entire package is grasped and is pulled further so as to completely wrap film 21 in a band-like manner around tray 89, see FIGURE 5A, to form essentially a tubular structure having open ends about tray 89. As previously described, the apparatus of this invention makes it possible to tightly pull film 21 around tray 89 and its contents without likelihood of damage to apparatus 20. The wide bearing surface provided by plate 31 assures that a very tight wrapping force can be exerted.

Once tray 89 is wrapped tightly, as shown in FIGURE 5A, the entire tubular wrapped assembly is lowered against cutting means 36 and severed. The open ends of the essentially tubular assembly thus defined are then completely wrapped around the ends of tray 89 and the entire wrapped package is subjected to a heat environment as by placing such package on a controlled temperature hot plate 95 as illustrated in FIGURE 7A. Hot plate 95 heat seals the plastic film 21 around tray 89 in a positive sealed manner to protect the apples of this example for marketing.

It will be appreciated that a heat-shrinkable plastic material may be provided in roll form and comprising roll 21. If such heat-shrinkable material is used the wrapping operation will be carried out as previously described either in the banding or sheeting operation. The entire wrapped assembly is then placed on a conveyor or the like and placed in a controlled heat environment such as a controlled temperature heating oven and the plastic material is further shrunk against the tray 89 or the like to provide an even tighter overwrap.

The use of a cutting means comprised of electrically heated knife 36 also provides a simple and economical method for cutting the plastic material 21. The knife 36 has its cutting edge inclined with respect to the horizontal. It will be appreciated that the cutting edge of knife 36 may be positioned vertically if desired. The use of a heated knife 36 with a saw-like edge to sever the thin film 21 provides a rapid and effective way of cutting which is simple and inexpensive.

Bearing plate 31 is placed at an angle so that the free end of plastic film 21 to be grasped is generally positioned up and away from the heated knife 36. This assures that an operator does not have to get too close to the knife edge 36 to grasp the severed end of plastic material 21 to dispense another length. In addition, with the arrangement of plate 31 slightly above the position of knife 36 it is easier to pull plastic film 21 tightly in an essentially horizontal manner to enable partial tight wrapping of product means and then it is only necessary to merely further lower the partially wrapped assembly down and make slight contact with heated knife edge 36 to thereby sever the predetermined amount of plastic material and reset the measuring apparatus.

In the embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIG URES 8-10 of the drawings another improved measuring and dispensing apparatus is shown and designated by the numeral 100. Apparatus is generally similar in operation and construction to apparatus 20 previously described.

Apparatus 100 has rotatable support means comprised of a pair of rotatable rollers 101 and 102. Rollers 101 and 102 are horizontally arranged and supported for frictionless rotation on a pair of upright members or plates each designated by the numeral 103. Roller 101 is generally similar in operation, construction, and function to roller 24 of apparatus 20 previously described.

In a manner as previously described for apparatus 20, a roll of material such as a roll of thermoplastic material or film 104 is placed in a supporting manner on rollers 101 and 102 as shown in FIGURE 8. Film 104 is unwound from the top of its roll, passed under roller '101, and then passed over a bearing plate 105 fixed to the end of a movable assembly 108. Plate 105 has a comparatively large surface area enabling unrolling of a predetermined amount of film 104 and pulling comparatively tightly essentially in a horizontal manner without danger of snagging or inadvertently tearing such thin plastic material 104.

Apparatus 100 has an adjustment mechanism as illustrated generally at 106 in FIGURE 9 including an adjustable dial 107 with a pointer 107A enabling setting the desired length of film 104 to be unrolled in each measuring and dispensing cycle.

Roller 101 has a gear 110 fixed to the terminal end thereof and the unrolling action of unrolling plastic film 104 causes gear 110 to rotate clockwise. Gear 110 intermeshes with another gear 111 which is suitably supported on plate 103. Gear 111 comprises part of a measuring assembly indicated generally by the numeral 112 in FIGURES 9 and 10 and clockwise rotation of gear 110 causes counterclockwise rotation of gear 111.

Measuring assembly 112 further comprises an arm 113 which is supported about a common shaft 114 with gear 111. A generally helically wound spring 115 is provided with its inner end fixed to shaft 114 in any suitable manner and fixed to arm 113 at its opposite outer end. Spring 115 tends to normally urge arm 113 clockwise.

Arm 113 has a pawl mechanism 116 pivotally mounted on pin shaft 117 at its terminal end. Pawl 116 has a portion 120 which is moved into and out of engagement with the teeth of gear 111 in response to pivoting movement about shaft 117. The pivoting movement of pawl 116 is achieved by contacting an opposite end portion 121 of such pawl and urging end 120 into and out of engagement in accordance with the measuring and dispensing cycle in a manner as will be presently described.

Measuring mechanism 112 has a member 122 which is fixed to adjustment knob 107 in any suitable manner and is movable by knob 107 so that the position to which member 122 is adjusted, in effect, controls the amount of material to be measured or dispensed in any particular measuring and dispensing cycle.

Plate 105 over which plastic film 104 is pulled is carried on linkage assembly 108 as previously mentioned. Linkage assembly 108 comprises an arm 125 at each end of apparatus 100. Each arm 125 is pivotally mounted to an associated upright member 103 about a pivot axis provided by a pivot pin 126. Plate 105 is supported at its opposite ends in a generally horizontal manner by arms 125.

Arm 125 has a surface 127 at its end opposite the end supporting bearing plate 105. Surface 127 is constructed and arranged such that upon pivoting arm 125 associated with the measuring mechanism 112 provided at one end of apparatus 100, surface 127 engages end portion 121 of pawl 116 at the conclusion of a measuring and dispensing cycle.

At the beginning of a measuring and dispensing cycle the amount of material to be measured is set by knob 107 and the amount of six inches is shown in the particular setting illustrated in FIGURE 8. This setting indicates that member 122 is positioned in such a manner with respect to the upright members 103 that spring 115 will rotate arm 113 clockwise until pawl 116 has its end portion 121 engaged by member 122. This position is illustrated by dotted lines in FIGURE 9. Engagement of end portion 121 by member 122 causes pawl 116 to be pivoted so that its tip 120 engages the teeth of gear 111.

Upon pulling the plastic film 104, gear 111 is rotated counterclockwise carrying arm 113 and pawl 116 with it, Arm 113 and pawl 116 are carried until arm 113 strikes a stop 129. At this position, further rotation of the gear 111 is prevented by pawl 116. With gear 111 held against further rotation, the plastic film 104 can be pulled tightly against bearing plate 105 by pulling essentially horizontally and without danger of tearing.

Once film 104 is pulled tightly product means to be wrapped may be partially tightly wrapped and then the entire linkage assembly 108 can be moved downwardly so that arm 125 pivots about pivot point 126 causing its surface 127 to strike end portion 121 of pawl 116 and causing film 104 to engage cutting means 132. With film 104 out by cutting means 132 and with surface 127 striking portion 121, pawl 116 is released allowing spring 115 to rotate arm 113 back to the position illustrated by solid lines in FIGURE to begin another measuring and dispensing cycle.

It will be seen that the arm 125 associated with the measuring mechanism has a spring 130 fastened to its inner end portion opposite plate 105. Once each arm 125 is pivoted about pivot 126 to release pawl mechanism 116, spring 130 returns assembly 108 so each arm 125 is in the essentially horizontal position illustrated in FIGURE 9 of the drawings.

In this example of the invention," the cutting means 132 is illustrated as an electrically heated cutting wire 132 and arms 125 carry a generally U-shaped member 133 at their terminal ends which surrounds hot wire 132 to protect an operator against possibly being burned by such hot wire 132. The hot wire 132 enables thin film 104 to be cut easily and rapidly. During the above described pivoting motion, assembly 108 is pivoted so that hot wire 132 is exposed above U-shaped member 133 allowing it to be engaged by film 104. Upon completion of the severing action spring 130 pivots arm 125 into the horizontal position as previously mentioned and again shields hot wire 132.

Thus, it is seen that an improved apparatus has been provided having simple and efiicient measuring means for measuring and dispensing material to be used as an overwrap for product means. The apparatus not only has a rugged and unique measuring and dispensing feature but also is constructed and arranged to enable rapid and tight wrapping of product means without wasting wrapping material.

Further, this invention provides an improved method of efiiciently wrapping product [means which is simple to use and which results in such product means being wrapped tightly and sealed for maximum protection.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. A measuring and dispensing apparatus for roll means of material comprising, a pair of spaced apart horizontally arranged rollers supporting said roll means thereon by engaging the outer periphery theerof and rotating in response to unrolling action of said roll means, measuring means operatively connected to one of said rollers for measuring the amount of material unrolled from said roll means and stopping the unrolling action when a predetermined amount of material as determined by said measuring means has been unrolled, an adjustment assembly mounted on said apparatus and operatively connected to said measuring means, said assembly enabling setting of said measuring means from the exterior of said apparatus to establish said predetermined amount of material, and cutting means for cutting said predetermined amount.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising, bearing plate means having a lower portion pivotally mounted on said apparatus and an upper portion, mechanical spring means normally yieldingly holding said upper portion at a dispensing position while allowing swinging movement of said upper portion through a limited arc away from said dispensing position, said bearing plate means providing a planar surface area against which said unrolled material is pulled tightly with minimum likelihood of tearing following movement of said upper portion through said limited arc and once said unrolling action is stopped, and said cutting means being supported at a fixed horizontal position beneath said bearing plate means and downstream thereof in such a manner so as to cut said material during said movement through said limited arc.

3. A measuring and dispensing apparatus for roll means of material comprising, a pair of spaced apart horizontally arranged rollers supporting said roll means thereon by engaging the outer periphery thereof and rotating in response to unrolling action of said roll means, externally adjustable measuring means operatively connected to one of said rollers for measuring the amount of material unrolled from said roll means and stopping the unrolling action when a predetermined amount of material as determined by the adjustment of said measuring means has been unrolled, cutting means for cutting said predetermined amount, and bearing plate means normally yieldingly held by yielding means at a dispensing position and supported for limited movement away from said dispensing position and generally transverse to said plate means, said bearing plate means providing a planar surface area enabling pulling of said unrolled material tightly thereagainst with minimum likelihood of tearing once said unrolling action is stopped, and said cutting means being supported at a fixed horizontal position adjacent said bearing plate means and downstream thereof in such a manner so as to cut said material during said limited movement, said measuring means comprising resetting means to enable resetting said measuring means to measure said predetermined amount, and said apparatus further comprising linkage means operatively connected between said resetting means and said bearing plate means, said linkage means comprising a pair of pivotally supported arms of equal length yieldingly supporting said bearing plate means in a horizontal position at their swinging ends to enable said limited movement thereof in a circular are having a radius defined by said equal length, one of said arms actuating said resetting means after moving said bearing plate means through said limited movement.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which, said roll means comprises a roll of thermoplastic material having its unwound terminal end portion wrapped around said one roller to thereby rotate said one roller as determined by the amount of material unrolled from said roll of thermoplastic material and with said one roller being operatively connected to said measuring means, said cutting means comprises heated knife means supported at said fixed position and providing a simple cutting action merely by contacting said thermoplastic material thereagainst and further comprising a substantially U- shaped shield member fixed to said arms adjoining the outer edge of said bearing plate, said shield member being arranged to normally surround said heated knife means to protect an operator against burning by said heated knife means, and upon moving said bearing plate means through said limited movement said shield member is also moved away from said heated knife means to enable contacting said thermoplastic material thereagainst.

5. A measuring and dispensing apparatus for roll means of thermoplastic material comprising, rotatable support means supporting said roll means by engaging the outer periphery thereof and rotating in response to unrolling action of said roll means supported thereon, said rotatable support means comprising a pair of spaced apart horizontal rollers with the outer periphery of said roll means of thermoplastic material supported thereon and wrapped around one of said rollers to thereby rotate said one roller as determined by the amount of thermoplastic material unrolled from said roll means, measuring means operatively connected to said one roller for measuring the amount of material unrolled from said roll means and stopping the unrolling action when a predetermined amount of material has been unrolled, said measuring means comprising resetting means to enable resetting said measuring means to measure said predetermined amount, bearing plate means normally yieldingly held by yielding means at a dispensing position and supported for limited movement away from said dispensing position and generally transverse to said plate means, said bearing plate means enabling pulling of said unrolled thermoplastic material tightly thereagainst once said unrolling action is stopped, cutting means for cutting said predetermined amount, said cutting means comprising heated knife means and being positioned adjacent said bearing plate means and downstream thereof in such a manner so as to provide a simple cutting action merely by contracting said thermoplastic material thereagainst during said limited movement, linkage means operatively connected between said resetting means and said bearing plate means, said linkage means actuating said resetting means after moving said bearing plate means through said limited movement to enable cutting said predetermined amount, and said measuring means further comprising first gear means fixed to the terminal end of said one roller, second gear means engaging the periphery of said first gear means and driven thereby, and pawl means engaging said second gear means at the beginning of said unrolling action and rotating therewith until said predetermined amount of material has been unrolled whereupon said pawl means is released and reset by said resetting means.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said pawl means comprises arm means extending radially along said second gear means and supported for rotation about the same axis therewith and a pawl pivotally mounted at the terminal end of said arm means; and said resetting means comprises urging means urging said arm means to rotate in a direction opposite the rotation of said second gear means during said unrolling action, trip surface means actuated by said linkage means to pivot said pawl means out of engagement with said second gear means enabling said urging means to rotate said arm means said predetermined amount, and stop means which pivot said pawl means back into engagement with said second gear means and enable commencing of another measuring and dispensing cycle.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said stop means has adjusting means enabling adjustment thereof to provide adjustable control of the amount of material unrolled in each measuring and dispensing cycle.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising platform means arranged between said roll means of thermoplastic material and said cutting means and immediately thereabove, whereby product means to be wrapped with said thermoplastic material is placed on said platform means to enable looping of the free end of said thermoplastic material around one end portion of said product means and by holding said free end against lower surface means of said product means and' pulling tightly across said bearing plate means and over said heated knife means said product means can be wrapped tightly before subjecting the wrapped product means to a heat environment to seal said thermoplastic material thereagainst.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,121,346 6/1938 Harvey 22514 2,255,627 9/1941 Steiner et a] 22521 2,617,198 11/1942 Sharpe 22514 X 3,125,266 3/1964 Kindseth et al 225l4 X 3,228,578 1/1966 Waltz 22521 T HERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

NEIL ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

